Melody Dougan (History, 1958)Retired from career in state education- teaching; education administration; education consultancy; school governance.ANG Role: Exeter University Club & Legacy

Melody’s lifelong commitment to the University is a remarkable example of the ways in which alumni can remain involved with their University.

Having had, through my professional career, an unusually wide experience of education, through teaching (Senior Teacher), education administration (LEA Senior Education Officer), education consultancy and school governance, I have a deep commitmentto all aspects of education.

Steve’s unstinting commitment to Exeter over the years has been fantastic. He naturally takes an interest in the School of Law, and also provides a keen strategic view of the University’s activities overall.

I joined Slaughter and May in 1973. After qualifying as a solicitor I pursued a career in corporate tax and have been a partner in the firm since 1982.

John Gilbert has been active in organising several popular golf events which give alumni the opportunity to engage with fellow alumni and current students.

I enjoy supporting the University, and helped establish the Annual Alumni Golf Days, which over the past seven years have raised significant amounts of money for sport at Exeter. Having been heavily involved in sport when I was a student, including organizing the first University US soccer tour, sport has continued to play a major part in my life and this seemed like a great way to give something back. Read full profile...

Ben’s help advising the College of Life and Environmental Sciences has been instrumental in inspiring cross-discipline involvement with alumni.

I joined the Alumni Network Group in 2008 with responsibility for recent alumni activity, helping to establish Exetra – the University’s group for recent alumni. I am now co-lead for Life and Environmental Sciences, with fellow alumnus Jon O’Sullivan.

Jon O’Sullivan (Psychology, 1999)Head of Valuation and LEC Management, Vattenfall Wind Power LtdANG Role: College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Jon was instrumental in launching the hugely successful Exetra group for recent graduates before moving onto his current role within ANG. He is passionate about giving back to Exeter and works with psychology students as well as advising the University using his professional experience.

After leaving Exeter, I decided to do an MSc in Management and Marketing at the University of Bath. In 2001 I joined BP’s Graduate Commercial Development Programme and subsequently held a wide variety of different business roles. Read full profile...

Alison is a great advocate for the ways in which alumni can help current students. She was instrumental in getting our Career Mentor Scheme, in which alumni mentor current students, off the ground.

I have had an exciting and enjoyable career in business. I am keen to help develop the alumni network so that we can provide insight into a very broad range of careers to Exeter students looking for help in understanding the wealth of opportunities that exist. Read full profile...

Jo Binding

Jo Binding (Psychology, 2000)Head of Media at Manchester City Football ClubANG Role: Employability

Jo combines her considerable experience from her career working within top organisations such as BT and Sky, with a real passion for helping Exeter students. She has both mentored students and arranged work experience.

After graduating from Exeter, I first worked in PR, moving to Disney’s marketing team. I then joined Sky where I stayed for many years, working on developing and launching new products including video on demand, 3D and Sky Go, rising to Head of High Definition TV. I did a secondment to News International for six months, to work on their digital strategy. Read full profile...

Jeremy’s understanding of the University as a whole, as a result of his links with numerous departments and projects both personally and for IBM, allows him to give advice which addresses the complex issues faced by the University today.

I joined IBM in 1985 as a graduate hire and pursued a sales career focusing on IBM’s newly established Services division before leading the management of the IT Services business in 1998 across UK, Ireland and Africa. I have been Vice-President, IBM UK & Ireland since 2009. Read full profile...

Sarah has been a generous host for several of our events, as well as serving on the Alumni Network Group in support of alumni activities in general. We are delighted that Sarah will now be leading the University’s overall strategic direction as Chair of Council.

In 2006 I became Chairman of Willis International, where I’m responsible for the Willis Group’s 44 subsidiary companies worldwide. I’m also a member of the Willis Group’s Executive Committee, the senior management team setting and executing Willis’ global strategy.

With 30-plus years of experience in strategy development, technology, operations, manufacturing supply-chain and management consulting, Deborah provides clients with a distinct competitive advantage. Her work has placed her at the leading-edge of strategic change to build business value; including establishing the first manufacturing enterprise for the Mars Group in the former USSR.